Nocek rushed for 65 yards on eight carries as the Terriers advanced to the FCS playoffs quarterfinals game 3 p.m. Saturday at top-ranked and No. 1 overall seed North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D.

It was his highest single-game total and also put him at 202 yards for the season, also a career-best.

But it's his blocking that makes Nocek invaluable on the Wofford offense. At 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds, he throws devastating blocks that open holes for the other ball-carriers, most notably Eric Breitenstein, the Southern Conference player of the year who has rushed for a school-record 1,900 yards.

Nocek had a pair of key blocks that led to Breitenstein touchdowns against New Hampshire.

“I definitely think he's one of the most overlooked guys,” Breitenstein said. “He does an excellent job. You can always count on him to get the block. If he's running the football, you can count on him to fall forward for six or seven yards (averaging 7.8). I think he runs a lot like I do. No one man is going to take him down.”

Breitenstein credited Nocek with the block that triggered a 54-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-1 play during Wofford's opening possession. Nocek moved a 290-pound defensive lineman to help create a hole up the middle.

“What was interesting about that was my responsibility was one thing and I ended up doing something else,” Nocek said. “(Offensive right tackle) Jake Miles and I switched on the fly. I blocked his guy and he blocked my guy and Eric just shot right through. Jake and I just kind of signaled to each other. We're both fifth-year guys. We've learned how to do that.”

In the second quarter, Nocek had a block on the edge that allowed Bryan Youman to run up the left sideline for 19 yards to the 6, where Breitenstein finished for the second of his three touchdown runs. Nocek, 20 yards behind the action on Youman's run, did a fist pump in celebration.

“We're taught to time it up with the back so he can cut outside or inside,” Nocek said. “(The New Hampshire defensive player) just kept working me and I pushed him out there. Bryan made a nice cut to get by us. After I drove the guy a few yards, he tossed me. So I just got up and was standing there watching. It worked out.”

Nocek carried the ball and let others block for him on a few big plays. The Terriers twice went to him deep in their own territory to help climb out of a hole. He had a 14-yard run from the 11 and a 17-yard run from the 9. In the fourth quarter, he had a 15-yard run with a facemask penalty tacked on.

Then in the final minute, facing a fourth-and-3, Nocek picked up the first down that allowed the Terriers to take a knee for the victory.

“I couldn't tell whether I got it or not as I was driving through,” he said. “Then I looked over and saw the marker. That was a pretty good feeling. That was cool.”

Nocek was a first-team all-conference player as a running back at Hollidaysburg (Pa.) Area High School, second-team as a defensive back and kick returner. He rushed for 1,910 yards in his career with 31 touchdowns as well as six interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.

“He came here as a walk-on and earned a scholarship with a lot of hard work and perseverance,” Ayers said. “He competes. He doesn't care who it's against. If he's blocking a University of South Carolina linebacker who is a foot taller and 50 pounds heavier, he gets after it.

“Brad is one of those guys who does whatever the team needs to be done. He's all about the team. He's a great leader and a great role model.”

<p>Quietly, so much so that it went largely unnoticed, fifth-year senior running back Brad Nocek had perhaps the game of his career in the 23-7 playoff victory against New Hampshire.</p><p>Nocek is used to not being noticed.</p><p>“He's one of our unsung heroes,” Wofford head coach Mike Ayers said.</p><p>Nocek rushed for 65 yards on eight carries as the Terriers advanced to the FCS playoffs quarterfinals game 3 p.m. Saturday at top-ranked and No. 1 overall seed North Dakota State in Fargo, N.D. </p><p>It was his highest single-game total and also put him at 202 yards for the season, also a career-best.</p><p>But it's his blocking that makes Nocek invaluable on the Wofford offense. At 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds, he throws devastating blocks that open holes for the other ball-carriers, most notably Eric Breitenstein, the Southern Conference player of the year who has rushed for a school-record 1,900 yards.</p><p>Nocek had a pair of key blocks that led to Breitenstein touchdowns against New Hampshire.</p><p>“I definitely think he's one of the most overlooked guys,” Breitenstein said. “He does an excellent job. You can always count on him to get the block. If he's running the football, you can count on him to fall forward for six or seven yards (averaging 7.8). I think he runs a lot like I do. No one man is going to take him down.”</p><p>Breitenstein credited Nocek with the block that triggered a 54-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-1 play during Wofford's opening possession. Nocek moved a 290-pound defensive lineman to help create a hole up the middle.</p><p>“What was interesting about that was my responsibility was one thing and I ended up doing something else,” Nocek said. “(Offensive right tackle) Jake Miles and I switched on the fly. I blocked his guy and he blocked my guy and Eric just shot right through. Jake and I just kind of signaled to each other. We're both fifth-year guys. We've learned how to do that.”</p><p>In the second quarter, Nocek had a block on the edge that allowed Bryan Youman to run up the left sideline for 19 yards to the 6, where Breitenstein finished for the second of his three touchdown runs. Nocek, 20 yards behind the action on Youman's run, did a fist pump in celebration.</p><p>“We're taught to time it up with the back so he can cut outside or inside,” Nocek said. “(The New Hampshire defensive player) just kept working me and I pushed him out there. Bryan made a nice cut to get by us. After I drove the guy a few yards, he tossed me. So I just got up and was standing there watching. It worked out.”</p><p>Nocek carried the ball and let others block for him on a few big plays. The Terriers twice went to him deep in their own territory to help climb out of a hole. He had a 14-yard run from the 11 and a 17-yard run from the 9. In the fourth quarter, he had a 15-yard run with a facemask penalty tacked on.</p><p>Then in the final minute, facing a fourth-and-3, Nocek picked up the first down that allowed the Terriers to take a knee for the victory.</p><p>“I couldn't tell whether I got it or not as I was driving through,” he said. “Then I looked over and saw the marker. That was a pretty good feeling. That was cool.”</p><p>Nocek was a first-team all-conference player as a running back at Hollidaysburg (Pa.) Area High School, second-team as a defensive back and kick returner. He rushed for 1,910 yards in his career with 31 touchdowns as well as six interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.</p><p>“He came here as a walk-on and earned a scholarship with a lot of hard work and perseverance,” Ayers said. “He competes. He doesn't care who it's against. If he's blocking a University of South Carolina linebacker who is a foot taller and 50 pounds heavier, he gets after it.</p><p>“Brad is one of those guys who does whatever the team needs to be done. He's all about the team. He's a great leader and a great role model.”</p>